Bones and All (2022) Movie Script

Come on.

Pass, pass. I'm open.

A little slower

in the hallway, please.

- You're an idiot.

- What if no one asks me?

Like last year?

I'll get that, milady.

You didn't tell me

you played piano.

Hey.

You are here.

Where have you been?

You weren't in Home Ec.

all week.

I got to slip to work

on the yearbook.

We missed our deadline

with Jostens.

Oh. How's it look?

You're not gonna be in it,

by the way.

Mr. Esser said

he reminded you three times

to get your picture taken.

Hey, so my dad's doing

inventory all night,

and Kim and Jackie

are sleeping over.

Come too.

No, my dad won't let me.

So sneak out.

After he goes to bed.

How would I get there?

You're down

in Southwind, right?

You know the power lines

that go up the hill?

That's Chesapeake Road

at the top. I'm right there.

You said you wanna make

more friends here.

Hey. Come on, you drive.

- Okay.

- Take care. Bye.

Hey. That was good

on the road.

Gotta work on that parking

some more...

but good.

You think

it's gonna rain tonight?

Don't think it's supposed to.

Got homework?

Just reading, Dad.

The man has attempted suicide.

I think he realized

that this scheme that

he had been involved in,

about which he had

always been extremely guilty.

I mean, he's... he's,

I think, the only person

in this entire scheme to have

voluntarily walked out on it.

Some people were annoyed

with it, upset with it,

and... but went along with it.

Others enjoyed it

because they were making

a lot of money out of it.

Dowd was the only person

who had the character...

'Night, Dad.

...and the moral fiber...

Yeah. Sleep good.

...to walk out on this scheme

long before anybody

knew about it,

because it disgusted him.

I mean,

the prospect of actually

walking into

Donald Manes' office

and paying him cash...

Hang on. Okay.

-Hey.

You got prickers all over you.

Come in.

So you can't

spend the night?

Not all night.

I should be back

by 6:00 to be safe.

Jesus.

I'll just head out

when you guys wanna sleep.

So where'd you move here

from anyway?

Eastern shore.

Is your mom in the picture?

Sherry says

you only have a dad.

"Cinnamon Glaze."

We're trying to talk.

Kim,

give me your hand.

Never mind

about your mom.

It's none of my business,

anyway.

I don't have

any memories of her.

Or photos even.

My dad wouldn't

tell me anything.

Try that.

It's called "Copper Fever."

It's too orange.

Oh, my God!

Maren, stop it!

Stop! Stop it!

Maren, stop! Maren, no!

Jackie!

Maren, stop!

Jackie! Jackie, help!

Jackie, help!

You didn't.

In the car in three minutes.

Whatever you can take

in three minutes.

Go!

Shit.

Move, Maren!

When the cops get here,

we have to be good and gone.

Dad?

I've got some things to say.

And then...

I want you to make sure

this, uh...

this tape is good

and destroyed. Don't keep it.

This has got my voice on it.

You're not going

to see me again, Maren.

I can't...

help you anymore.

I can't do anything else,

either.

Call the cops or whatever

somebody might do in my place.

So I gotta leave you

to figure it out for yourself.

Like your mother did.

I'm sorry. You know

what I mean now.

I don't know how much...

how much of what I'm gonna say

you'll remember.

Yeah. Never was sure.

But just in case,

I'll tell you

everything I know.

First time was

when you were three.

Downey has the crowd screaming

at Towson State University.

The topic was

the most controversial issue

on this year's

Maryland ballot,

the gun ban referendum.

The majority of those

in the audience

seem to be against the ban,

but we found those

on both sides of the issue.

I think

it's a good law,

if she gets

guns off the streets,

and that's what we need most.

I just

don't think it's fair

for all the innocent people

that wanna get a gun

to protect themselves.

Just making it easier

for criminals

to have them

than honest people.

I don't want

them comin' in my living room

and tell me what I can

and can't buy.

Y'all think if you take

the guns away from everybody,

you have less shooting

with the whole nine-yards,

the criminals

and the innocent people.

Hi.

Uh...

I need to get here.

What's the closest

I can get by bus?

Well, looks like

Detroit Lakes.

Three transfers.

Frederick, Maryland,

Columbus and Minneapolis.

One way? 83.

How much to Columbus?

Shouldn't you be in school?

You'd think.

I don't know what that means.

Means I'm 18,

in the state of Maryland,

and I can decide for myself

where I should be.

I'm gonna need to see

a driver's license

or a learner's permit.

You can see

a birth certificate.

Come on.

Just to Columbus?

It's 49.

50.

I had a sitter for you then.

Her name was Penny.

When I came in,

she was on the bathroom floor.

There was... so much blood.

Her face was chewed up bad,

but the worst of it

was her neck.

She must've been holding you

when you started in on her.

Her hands, all chewed up. I...

I thought you were dead too.

That somebody

had done you both,

but you were sleepin'.

When I turned you over,

I saw the blood on your mouth.

You had something

in your cheek.

I fished it out. It was soft,

like a wad of gum.

It had a little hole in it.

Where an earring would go.

I remember thanking God

she hadn't been wearing any,

you could've choked.

I got the body out,

I bleached the place

three times,

and then packed us up

and left.

They never found

where I put her.

That was the last time

I used our real last name.

Now you know why.

Nothin' happened

for a few years. I relaxed.

You had to start school

and I thought...

I thought you wouldn't

do it in public,

and you didn't.

But you got clever.

So fucking clever.

I didn't mean to scare you.

You waiting for the bus?

Well, no, missy. I...

I came lookin' for you.

Do I know you?

I guess not in the way

you mean.

I smelled you.

You probably smell me now.

When was the last time

you fed?

Stop, stop,

stop there. Stop.

You haven't in a long time.

I'll say...

many months.

At least.

You can smell that?

Oh, sure.

You can...

You can smell lots of things

if you know how.

And we just smell anyway.

Whether we ate or not.

Hmm.

Come on, missy.

Come on.

Where are we goin'?

Just here,

someplace dry and safe.

I'm Sullivan.

Friends call me Sully.

Maren.

Is this your house?

Listen, Maren,

don't worry. I'm okay.

I got rules.

One, number one

is never, never, ever

eat an Eater.

Think you can follow that too?

All right.

I'll fix some dinner for us.

I smelled you from the yard,

little missy. Come on.

This far?

Round the back.

We'll talk inside.

The Sully, he found

these little Cornish hens

in the freezer.

These hens,

they look like

they had a good life.

Thought I was the only one.

Are there lots of us?

Not lots.

But more...

more than you'd think.

You've met a few, sure,

that you know of.

You never had anyone

take a interest in you?

A double take?

Just always thought--

You just thought

some people are creepy.

It's better if we all

steer clear of one another.

We're dangerous to non-Eaters,

but we can hurt

one another just as bad.

I hope you're

hearing me on this.

You sound like my dad.

Your daddy find out about you?

What about you?

You basically just said

steer clear of people like us.

But you came looking for me.

Smart.

When I saw you're just

a girl on your own,

I thought...

you might be hungry.

For hens?

No.

Who lives here?

Well, go and look.

Use your nose.

What do you smell?

Is there someone

dead up there?

What do you smell?

Describe it.

Metallic.

Like blood?

No, like mud.

Something tangy.

But not like rotten.

No.

But close.

More like vinegar.

Like vinegar in the soup.

Yeah. Yeah.

- She's alive.

- Missy.

-We'll get help.

-Missy.

What did you do to her?

I found her like that

this mornin'.

You're lying. Let me by.

Listen.

Let me bone down on this.

Whatever you and I got,

it's gotta be fed.

No. Uh...

No, 'cause it was...

It was years

before my last time.

That's because you're young.

You're gonna need it

more and more,

and more and more.

And you won't always be able

to hold yourself back.

But if the circumstances is...

is safe and good,

then eat.

It'll last a while,

maybe it'll keep you from,

you know,

doing something you'll regret.

Even more.

Even more, missy.

Yes, Sully found her that way.

I followed my nose.

I don't...

I don't kill people.

At least I try not to.

That leaves this.

And things like it.

Can I have

a few minutes, please?

Sure, you can.

I don't think

it'll be a long time now.

When the time comes,

you'll smell it.

This is how I do it.

It helps me

to remember each one.

When I began this,

I was about your age.

Pull it.

You won't break it.

It's strong.

Who was your first?

You remember?

I ate my own granddad

while they were waiting

on the undertaker.

Did anyone find you

while you were doing it?

My mama.

My mama found me afterwards.

Cleaned me up.

She told everyone

animals got in and did it.

But when I finally ran off,

no one came looking for me.

And you've been

on your own since then?

It's not hard...

once someone teaches you.

But you don't...

you don't, uh...

you don't need to be alone.

You can bond with me

as long as you like.

I'm looking for someone.

Your mama.

You mentioned

your daddy last night,

so I knew he was

in the picture.

You must be runnin' from him

or he left you or somethin'.

But you didn't say nothin'

about your mama, though.

I never met her.

All I have is the name of

the town she was born in.

It's on my birth certificate.

Mm-hmm.

We better clean up

before we dry stuck

to these chairs.

♪ Beautiful,

beautiful brown eyes

♪ Beautiful, beautiful brown

♪ Beautiful,

beautiful brown eyes♪

The next few, I didn't see.

A boy went missin'

at a camp you went to.

I shouldn't have let you go.

But you wanted to.

It was just a week.

You were eight.

When that boy went missin',

I knew

this is who you are.

I never thought

"what" you are.

I don't know if I loved you

the way a father should,

but I... I didn't hate you.

You...

You ate them.

I believed you had to.

I don't know why.

They found his pup tent

pitched in the heavy woods,

all bloody inside.

Luke somethin' Vanderbilt.

Good evening, everyone.

They ruled it a homicide,

I... I never heard.

This is the end

of the line.

Vanderwall

or somethin' like that.

Take all

your belongings with you.

erwall

I watched after to see.

if you looked sad,

and you didn't.

That was the beginnin'

of sayin' no to things.

Now you know why

for that, too.

So I was thinking...

No. It's not there.

You don't have Lunchables?

What kind of

goddamned grocery store

runs out of Lunchables?

Excuse me.

Whoa, you trying

to run me down?

I asked a question.

Hear this, you dumb ho.

Hey, don't talk to her

like that!

Hey!

You're out of control, buddy.

You with the store

or somethin'?

No, I'm not with the store,

but I'm gonna

escort you out of it.

Fucking see what happens.

-See what happens?

-Yeah.

What's gonna happen?

Something bad's gonna happen?

Yeah.

Outside.

We're going outside.

You enjoy

hassling people, man?

Is that what you do

on Saturdays

when you're done jerking off?

Hey, gimme my hat,

you little jackass.

He's over in there, like,

400 yards if you wanna...

You could tell,

in the store?

I smelled you too.

I didn't know I could do that.

I'm, uh, going to Minnesota.

I got dumped here by a ride.

I just stole dinner.

It was all

I could think to do.

You're not local either,

I guess.

Why does that matter?

That was nice what you did

for that mom in there.

I'm 18, if you're wondering.

I was gonna guess younger.

Thanks.

I don't usually talk

to anyone after.

I don't actually meet

many others.

Sort of glad not to.

Yeah, I get it.

I'm just saying

I'm not an asshole.

You should probably go anyway.

Up close, you can see blood.

We're fine.

No.

I really don't think I am.

You wanna get in for a minute?

This truck's his.

You can't just take it.

Everyone's got their rules.

That's not one of my rules.

"Barry Cook.

"5278 Route 13.

Centerville, Indiana."

You're going to his house?

Yeah, he didn't have

any pictures in his wallet.

I think it'll be all right.

-Took his wallet, too?

-I didn't take his wallet,

I took the money

out of the wallet. Eight bucks.

I chucked the wallet

in a creek back there.

I'm Maren.

I'm Lee.

I don't know whether to cry,

or scream, or laugh, or what.

Don't scream.

I thought I was the only one.

Now I meet two others

in a week.

Hey, do you think

you could help me?

I'm new at this.

No one our age is new at this.

Well, I'm new

at remembering it.

At all.

Look, I won't try to mess

with you. I promise.

I don't wanna hurt anybody.

Famous last words.

He's got Lick It Up by Kiss.

That's the one where they stop

wearing make-up.

Who?

You don't know

Lick It Up?

You don't know Kiss?

You were home-schooled,

I guess.

Smells like he'd been getting

stoned in here for 30 years.

Wait, this is it. He has it!

Lick It Up.

Fuck.

♪ Yeah, yeah♪

You know?

♪ Don't wanna wait

till you know me better♪

♪ Let's just be glad

for the time together♪

♪ Life's such a treat

And it's time you taste it♪

♪ There ain't a reason on earth

to waste it♪

♪ It ain't a crime

to be good to yourself♪

♪ Lick it up♪

♪ Oh, oh-oh!♪

♪ It's only right now

Lick it up♪

♪ Lick it up♪

I'mma take a shower.

♪ Yeah♪

♪ Lick it up♪

♪ Oh, oh-oh!♪

♪ Come on, c ome on♪

♪ Lick it up♪

♪ Oh, oh-oh!♪

♪ Don't need to wait

for an invitation♪

Here comes Robert Ford there,

interfering where

he's got no place.

- Disqualification on Eric.

- Yeah.

Boyd jumps up in the ring.

Robs Jarrett.

Keith Eric starts

to kick on him,

and Fuller says no,

bam, and he throws...

It's your birthday.

I've been waiting on this day

for a long time.

You seemed like

such a hardcase yesterday.

When you weigh 140 pounds wet,

you gotta have

a big attitude instead.

I've got that for you.

-And the pancakes.

-Thanks.

-And your bacon.

-Thank you.

Sully.

That's his name.

The other guy I met.

He showed up at a bus station

saying he could smell me

half a mile away.

-Can you do that?

-Not that far.

Said he could also smell

when people are

about to die too.

Actually, I think I might have

heard of this guy.

-Really?

-Yeah.

Keeps this braid woven

with the hair.

People that he eats.

-Christ.

-It's like eight feet long.

That's a choice.

We don't have to be like that.

Why didn't you tag along

with him?

Mm...

Something about him.

I don't know.

I think he was tryin' to help.

I profoundly doubt that.

He was creepy, I guess.

Did that dawn on you

before or after

you ate

Mrs. Herman together?

More coffee?

- Yes, please.

- Okay.

Can I get anything else

for you guys?

That's all right.

That's good, thanks.

You're welcome.

-Harmon. Mrs. Harmon.

-Mrs... Mrs. Harmon.

Okay.

You're welcome.

Does that help?

Memorizing their names?

Why'd you offer

to bring me along?

You seem nice.

-I am nice.

-Mm.

Do I seem nice?

I'm going to the bathroom.

How do you feel

about sleeping outside?

Okay.

It'll be cold tonight,

but if we keep this truck,

we'll get a sheet of plywood

for back here.

What's in

Kentucky anyway?

It's my little sister.

I promised to give her

driving lessons

before she has

to take her test.

- Mm.

- She's a good kid.

Do you get home often?

A little bit.

I left when I was 17.

How come?

I didn't finish school,

which sucks.

I'm guessing

you didn't, either.

Other ways to learn, I guess.

Maybe what other peoples'

weaknesses may be.

That Satan knows

where your weakness is.

I said He knows

where your weakness is.

He knows how to stir you up.

I said He knows

how to stir you up.

And He knows

that one of my weaknesses

that I will confess to

is the ability to hate you

to the bitter end.

We'll stay here tonight.

This is my aunt's place.

She died in March.

My house's on the other side

of that plant.

I can't be seen in town,

though.

You need to know why?

No.

What's gonna happen

to all this stuff?

My mom's cleanin' it out.

She's a teacher, though.

She got school.

No, keep that off.

And keep the windows closed

tonight too.

Okay, I'mma take Kayla drivin'

behind the mall.

Hope I don't die.

I'll bring back

some food for us later.

Kayla's your sister?

Yeah. Kay,

Kayla. I call her "idiot "

to her face.

Or "stupid." Or whatever.

You can snoop around if

you want, I won't be offended.

See you later.

Lock the door.

Lee, open up

the goddam door, asshole.

I know you're in there.

Man, open up this door, Lee.

Let's go.

Why are you banging

on the fucking door?

What the fuck

are you doing here?

Nice work, you motard.

Found this note

you put in my purse.

You're leaving? Already?

Maren, this is Kayla.

Kayla, this is Maren.

You're a fuckin' asshole.

You said that you were gonna

stick around this time.

Something came up.

I gotta head out of town.

I... I don't believe you

anymore, Lee.

I... Where are you always

going anyway?

Let's go outside,

come on.

I wanna talk to you outside.

I'm going away

for a little bit,

all right? That's it.

Is that

your girlfriend?

That's my friend friend,

all right?

Maybe you can meet her

some other time.

Look, I can't stay, Kayla.

I just wanted to take you

drivin' like I said I would.

I fuckin' hate

that you do this.

You know, Dad did this,

and then he didn't come back.

Don't you know every time you

drive off, we're terrified?

I'll be back

in a couple of weeks.

What difference does it make?

You're not

listenin' to me.

Yes, I am.

Two weeks tops.

I'm not Dad.

I wouldn't do that.

Is there anything

that you don't lie about?

And you look like a fucking

faggot in that shirt.

Honestly, fuck you, Lee.

Fuck you.

God, fuck it, man.

Let's go tonight.

She's probably gonna tell

my mom that we're here.

If she comes, I...

I wanna spare you that.

I worked summers here.

I can't get in the safe,

but they keep all the petty

cash in a drawer in the cafe.

A cafe?

At a slaughterhouse?

Aren't there guards?

Yeah. Dale.

Deaf in both ears.

You be the bank.

I wanna show you something.

The music's supposed

to keep 'em calm.

You ever think about that...

every one of them

has a mom and a dad...

sisters, brothers,

cousins, kids.

Friends even?

A language.

Listen to them.

You never told me

what was in Minnesota.

My mom.

She lives there?

I don't know.

I don't even know

if she's still alive.

All I have is the name

of the town that she

was born in.

Could take a while

to track her down, you know.

It might even be a dead end.

It's all I have.

Then that's where we'll start.

I can take you...

if you want.

It's a lot of driving,

but I'm up for it, if you are.

We could take our time.

See the country.

Well, Missouri

and Iowa anyway.

Never been to either.

♪ Amarillo by mornin'♪

♪ Up from San Antone♪

♪ Everything that I got♪

♪ Is just what I've got on♪

Whoo-hoo!

What was

your first time like?

It was a babysitter.

-Mine too.

-Really?

What was it like?

A rush.

I could feel

every blood vessel

like spider-webbing

through me.

Felt like some kind

of weird new superhero.

What about afterward?

What'd you feel about it?

What'd you think?

I don't remember after.

That's bullshit.

Hey, I'm not just gonna

tell you what you wanna hear.

You asked me a question,

I gotta answer it.

Would you do

something with me?

-Listen to something with me?

-Yeah.

Whoo! I told you

they'd be back here.

-Hey.

I saw you guys down at

the swimming hole before.

Oh, yeah, we saw some people

down there too.

You were up there

on those rocks.

Up, uh...

Upwind of us.

You get me?

Don't worry, we're friendly.

I'm Jake. That's, uh, Bradley.

Goddamn, my name is Brad, man.

Call me what I want.

Nice to meet you, Brad.

Nice to meet you, Jake.

I'm Leon. That's Maggie.

You just passing through?

Yeah, just passing through.

Is that a problem?

We're not here to run you out.

We thought you might be

in need of some beer.

We got you.

Not many

come through here.

What do you say?

I'm into this now, right?

Pulling meat,

bones comin' out, you know.

And I start feeling watched.

I look around and at first,

I don't see him 'cause he's...

he's standing so still

in the trees,

but then I spot him.

I'm like, "What the fuck?"

I mean, I look like

the red devil at this point.

He's just watching me

like I'm...

...Doug fuckin' Henning.

I'm already on my feet,

and I'm runnin' at him,

and he pulls

a fuckin' pistol on me.

Turns out

he's an off-duty cop.

-First year on the force.

-We did

say we weren't gonna

tell nobody about that.

Oh, right, right.

So, he's a cop.

I think he's gonna

take me down. But he's just...

he's just looking at me.

And what did I say?

He said, "Do me now

or get the fuck gone

"'cause he ain't gonna be

no fun to eat cold."

I love it.

So he says...

"Go on, back to it. Mm-hmm.

"I gotta get

a better look at this."

So, uh...

I suddenly feel him

right there,

crouched down,

gettin' a better look.

He doesn't smell

like an Eater.

But there he is.

So I ask if he wants some.

And damned

if he don't nod all serious

like a food-stamp kid

on samples day.

- Yeah.

- So you know

what I gave him?

You're not one of us?

Abso-fucking-lutely normal

he is!

Well, uh, clearly not normal.

Hasn't had his Full Bones yet.

But, uh...

I reckon that's

coming soon enough.

"Full Bones"?

When you eat the whole thing.

Bones and all.

You ain't done that yet?

That's a big fucking deal.

It's like your first time.

There's...

before Bones and all,

and then there's after.

That's bullshit.

It's impossible,

what you're talking about.

How many people

have you eaten?

I count three.

Yes, miss.

Three people.

And you didn't have to?

You don't have to do this?

Kind of a groupie, I guess.

-Jesus Christ.

-You okay?

Jake's teaching me

how to smell other Eaters.

No, he's not.

You don't think he can do it?

Is she all right?

Whoa. Fuck. Fuck.

She's lucky

she's got you to help.

God.

He's the one who needs

the help, Brad.

You can see it a mile away.

You remind me

of every junkie I ever met.

You look like the kind

that's convinced himself

he's got this under his thumb.

But you pull on

one little thread and...

But maybe love

will set you free, man.

Maybe love will set you

free.

Lee, Lee.

What?

-What?

-Look. Look, look, look.

Go, go, go, go, go, go.

Hot dogs!

Roll up. Roll up.

I'm hungry, Lee.

We should do that

right over there.

Yeah, we have four tickets.

-Okay.

-Yes.

Step right up.

We've got big prizes.

Three tickets,

three tries.

Three tickets, three tries.

Who wants to play?

Three tickets,

three tries.

Can I play?

You're wasting your money.

Come on.

Ah.

I won. I won.

No, you didn't, little man.

But... But it's in a can.

What does that mean?

What you just did.

No underhand.

But that other kid did it.

You can read, can't you?

Now go on. Unless you got

three more tickets.

Hey, man.

You tryin' to win one

for your girlfriend?

I saw you walk up.

Oh, no,

that's not my girlfriend.

That's just, uh, a friend,

you know.

Nice.

Wow.

Can I get another one

if I sink it again?

You're not supposed to.

But, uh, no one has to know.

Damn.

Disappoint.

Hmm.

What's there to do around here

besides this dumbass carnival?

After my friend leaves,

I mean.

I close up at 11:00.

I got some weed in my car.

Hell, yeah.

-One more?

-Really?

Yeah.

- Damn.

Lucky, lucky.

My luck's not

gonna run out, is it?

No, man.

I'll see that it don't.

I'll see you in an hour?

Yeah, you will.

I haven't thought much

beyond this tape.

I can't.

I don't know

what's going to happen to you

or what should happen to you.

I wake up nights sick to death

wondering and hoping.

Hoping that whatever

troubles you is over,

and that if there is

a God in Heaven,

that you're just

a regular girl

with... regular problems

and regular pain,

and that you stop

wanting things

you shouldn't want, Maren.

And that your heart

has a chance.

I knew that's how

it would end.

"I hope you get better."

Maybe he's right,

maybe I should pray

that I wake up one day

to find they built

a maze around me.

Don't say that.

Don't.

He's wrong.

What happened to your dad?

You never say anything.

Nothing good.

Just a waste.

Except in my case,

I gave him the tape.

Just give me

a couple of minutes.

You made it.

- This is a good spot.

- Yeah, it's not bad.

There's no one here.

- Is that you?

- Yeah.

- It's a nice truck.

- Great, huh?

Yeah, she is.

I'm parked up there.

Do you smoke?

What are you laughing about?

- Do you smoke weed too?

- Yeah.

You kinky fucker.

Oh, yeah.

Faster, man.

Jerk it faster. Come on.

I'm close, yeah.

Yeah, like that.

Come on, come on, faster, man.

Faster, faster.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, fuck!

Oh.

Faster, jerk it faster, man.

Come on.

Yeah, I'm close. I'm close.

Just like that.

I'm close, I'm close.

Here it comes. Here it comes.

That sure feels...

The world in the spring

and a new skateboard

from Bikes Unlimited.

Don't you love

the smell of black rubber?

Maybe not.

It's an acquired taste.

Some people

never get used to it.

Don't really understand.

Oh, you can work your way up.

What's wrong?

That's the place

listed on his license,

but the lights are on.

I'm gonna go back

and see if anyone's there.

No, no, I'll go, I'll go.

You have blood on you.

I cleaned up.

He had wipes in the car.

You can take them if you want.

I'll see what I can see

from the yard.

Okay.

All black.

Completely hidden.

In my black cocoon,

I'm where no one can find me.

Maren, you okay?

What are you doing?

What? Oh, Christ.

Okay, we didn't know.

Hey, we didn't know,

okay?

Is he back?

No!

Something's wrong, Mom!

All right, we gotta go.

Let's go, let's go, let's go.

Focus, focus.

Come on, let's go.

Only there

did civilization arise.

Now, it's not my intention

to give a history lesson,

but I believe it's important

to remind ourselves

that in dealing

with the economy,

we're dealing with

human creativity.

This insight has represented

the underpinning of

our economic expansion.

There wasn't

a car seat, Maren.

He wasn't wearing

a wedding ring.

We should feel something.

'Cause we murder people.

We steal their stuff,

we move the fuck on,

and we ruin lives

that we don't even see.

Come on, why are we talking

about it like this?

We gotta do this!

We have to do it!

Talking about the future,

talking about being

a friend to yourself.

You don't have that.

This is too much.

No, we got

60, 70 years of this?

How dare you make this harder.

Maren, what do I...

What am I supposed...

How do I get you out of this?

What am I supposed to say

right now?

Just drive.

Right. All right.

You were dreaming.

We're almost there.

Uh, do have a telephone book?

The one outside's missing.

Uh...

I'm looking for someone

in Bagley.

Oh. This is for

the county, sweetie.

Thanks.

There.

-I'll come with you.

-No, stay here.

Excuse me?

Are you Barbara Kerns?

Wait, wait. Ms. Kerns.

Ms. Kerns.

I'm Maren Yearly.

Maren.

I've traveled a very long way.

Oh, they didn't marry.

Hmm. Yeah, we wondered.

Huh.

My husband, uh,

he died years ago.

Throat cancer.

-Sorry.

-Mm.

Sorry to surprise you

like this.

You didn't know your daughter

had a child, I guess.

No.

No. When she wanted

to get married,

we didn't agree.

So, it drove her away. Yeah.

Where did she meet my dad?

He didn't say?

He wouldn't say

anything about her.

Ah.

Hmm. Mm.

They met in college.

Down in Mankato.

She finished two years

before he talked her

into leaving.

Did he drive you here?

Is he outside?

No. He's in Maryland.

Does he know you're here?

Yeah, he let me know

where to find you.

So you haven't run away?

No.

My dad thinks that

I'm old enough

to live on my own.

Oh. Uh-huh.

Well, if you're looking for

a home with your mother,

um,

I'm sorry to tell you

that she...

she's no longer with us.

What? When?

It's a lot of years now,

and it's nothing

I wanna tell you about.

I hope you can respect that.

Well, I'm her daughter.

Yep. Makes sense now.

Why she came back so bereaved.

That's the word.

And she wouldn't tell us

anything, either.

Oh, it's just so much hiding

in one family.

I'm sorry you had to be

the child of it all.

Wait. What was

she like as a child?

Hmm.

Wow. She was your only child?

Well, not even ours.

Bob and I never could have

babies of our own.

But then we heard

about Janelle.

She'd been left behind

a sheriff's station

in Bemidji.

It was in the paper.

You know anything

about her biological parents?

No, nothing.

Except what they did

to their baby.

I mean, she could have froze,

you know.

It's cold here all the time.

My mother...

You can, you know, take those

photos if you want 'em.

Did she ever hurt anyone?

What kind of question is that?

I bet she did. I know she did.

I don't know what you had

to do to cover it up

or... how much pain

it caused you.

Stop this. At once.

Look, you're never

going to see me again, okay?

You may not be her family

by blood, but I am.

And I need to know.

So, please, Mrs. Kerns,

please...

Then ask her yourself.

How?

Look, I don't know you.

You gotta understand.

I didn't know what you wanted

comin' up here.

And I hope you mean

what you say

about never coming back here.

I know that sounds cold,

but I wanna be clear with ya.

I told you she was

no longer with us,

but she's not...

she's not dead.

She's living in a town

called Fergus Falls.

In a state hospital there.

And we didn't put her there,

if that's what

you're thinkin'.

She signed her own papers.

Okay.

Here. My mother's here.

Do you want me to come in?

No.

Mrs. Kerns' daughter.

I sure didn't expect this

when I woke up this morning.

Calm down.

Is she dangerous?

It's been many years

since that was a concern.

Why was it ever one?

Aggression towards the staff.

Self-harm.

But long ago.

It's possible she won't

understand who you are.

She just took

her morning meds,

so she may nod off anyhow.

We'll see.

There's someone here

to see you, Ms. Kerns.

A surprise.

A wonderful surprise.

It's Maren.

I'm Maren.

Can't she speak?

It's the medication.

Easy, Ms. Kerns.

I didn't come with Dad.

Just came by myself.

Should I give her

the letter, Ms. Kerns?

I fetched it on the way up.

She wrote this about

15 years ago now, must be.

I've kept it safe in her file

out there, in case.

She knew I'd come?

I'll wait right over here.

Maren, if a day comes

when you show up here,

I'll know it's because

your father broke his promise.

Told you something about me.

And I'll know why.

He didn't know what I was

when we married,

but he figured it out

by the time I had you.

I promised I would never hurt

either of you,

but how could we be sure?

It wasn't easy to leave.

I loved you both so much.

I thought about

ending my life,

but I wanted to be here

in case you ever did come.

All I ever wanted

in this world was love.

I tried, believed,

but we can't have it

as we are.

All we can have

is a little space,

with bars or a door

that locks.

I'm sorry

for that, Little Yearly.

For all the things

I didn't do for you

and for the one thing

I still can.

The world of love

wants no monsters in it.

So let me help you out of it.

No! Help me!

Ms. Kerns, calm down!

Maren, die.

Let me out. Let me out.

Press the button

on the door. Go!

I can't open the door.

Sorry, sorry.

Here we go, here we go.

I can't

fucking with the door.

You're good.

She's one of us.

She's one of us

but she's fucking nuts.

She ate her own fucking hands.

She said she loved my dad.

She said she wanted

to be a mom.

She could have stayed.

She could have told me

what I needed to know.

But all of this...

Fuck, you know how different

this would've been if I'd had

one person on my side?

One person to talk to?

You know what

I wouldn't have done?

Maybe, probably half

of what I've fucking done!

Fuck her. Fuck.

You know,

if she'd stayed,

she might have hurt you,

Maren.

Or worse, you might not even

be here right now.

Trust me, I know what I'm

talking about with this stuff.

This is better than

what I went through.

Please just stop

fucking talking!

You're pissed off,

and you're scared,

and you feel alone,

and you don't know what to do

with it all, it's fine.

If you wanna go at yourself

with that, I can't stop you.

But don't come at me.

You slit his throat, Lee.

-He had a wife. Kids.

-Okay.

I think you got used

to being locked up

and invisible and alone,

and now you're

out in the world...

-Okay, okay.

-...and you're seeing yourself

for the first time,

and that's freaking you out.

But you know what?

It's fucking me up too, okay?

I feel like

I'm seeing myself too.

That's how this works.

-How what works?

-This!

Whatever this is.

Stop. You're wrong,

you're wrong.

What? About which part

am I wrong?

I can't be around you anymore.

I can't think.

Jesus Christ.

We don't have

many options, Maren.

Either you eat,

you off yourself,

or you lock yourself up

like her in there.

What's it gonna be?

Why can't you

let me have this?

No.

I'm not going to be her.

You can decide no.

And I'm deciding that

right fucking now.

I'm just getting gas.

You have the money.

Maren!

♪ Beautiful,

beautiful brown eyes♪

♪ Beautiful,

beautiful brown eyes♪

♪ Beautiful,

beautiful brown eyes♪

♪ I'll never love

blue eyes again♪

Hey, hey.

You ain't sad to see

old Sully, are you, missy?

It worked out.

I hardly believe it.

You've been following me

since Frederick?

I know.

It seems crazy to me too. I...

I just didn't... I didn't know

what else to do.

Why, Sully?

Well, because we...

we didn't have a chance

to say our goodbyes.

And I've been worrying on you

on your own as you are.

Why not say hello

earlier then?

Oh, no, no, missy. I don't...

I don't interrupt.

That's bad manners,

and you were with a friend.

And where'd he go now?

I saw him.

Took off out of here fast.

Is he your new boyfriend?

Is he?

No, no, no.

Or just a hobo

you're hanging around with?

No, I'm just a friend.

Oh, just a friend.

Maybe he didn't get

that telegram.

He one of us?

Follow your nose

or he follow his?

Both.

Thanks for showing me how.

Hey, count the bugs.

Well, life's never dully

with Sully.

What do you say? Uh...

What do you say?

You wanna, uh,

take a ride with Sully

for a bit?

It's weird that

you've been following me.

It's only been

a couple of weeks.

Life will get weirder,

I promise. I promise.

I liked...

I liked our talk.

Oh, it's a hard and lonesome

road for us, isn't it?

So, there's no sense

in making it lonelier

if you don't have to.

-I'm a girl.

-I know.

About my daughter's age,

if I had one.

Is that what this is?

How do you like that?

Sully, I'm not trying

to upset you. Mm-hmm.

Just, I know

you drove a long way.

I don't feel

comfortable with this.

You've never fit

with someone before?

I have.

It's just gotta go both ways.

You don't like Sully.

Why do you say your name

like you're

two different people?

You don't like me.

No, I don't trust you.

It doesn't matter if I'm right

or if I'm wrong about that,

it just matters

that I feel it.

So you're not gettin' in?

Not gettin' in.

Fuck you, then.

Fuck you, missy.

You dumb cunt!

I...

I dried off next to you.

I've never done that

with anyone before.

That means something.

I dried off next to...

Your coffee.

Thanks.

How many times

you gonna tell her

before she starts to listen?

- Hi, guys.

- Hey, Sheila.

- Good to see you.

- Be right with you.

Stay with Daddy,

all right?

I'm bouncing so high.

I don't know.

Just come on, Daddy, watch me.

Watch me.

There's glass

all over here. Get over here.

Coming, Daddy.

I love you.

Hello?

Hey, idiot,

how are you doin'?

Is it too late to call?

Where are you?

You sound weird.

I'm driving home, actually.

Will you be here tonight?

Yeah, I'll be there

super late,

but yeah, I'll get there.

Can you stay?

This time, I can. Yeah.

I'm really glad, Lee.

Me too.

Hey, what do you think about

hittin' the kingdom

when I'm back?

Going for a drive

or something, huh?

Are you crying?

No. What?

Are... Are you in trouble?

No, I'm driving home.

I'm good.

Can I tell Mom you're coming?

Sure you can.

Sure.

I don't even care

about chores.

That's all I care about.

-It's so...

-You're right.

I mean,

I cared about it before,

- but not anymore.

- Yeah. Exactly.

Hey, Kayla.

I'm Maren, Lee's friend.

I met you at your aunt's house

a couple of months back.

I remember.

I'll talk to y'all

in a minute.

Yeah, I wanted

to say hi then, but...

Do you know where Lee is?

He was at my aunt's house

for a while,

but my mom

wouldn't leave him alone,

so he took his tent

and moved out to the lake.

Which lake?

Um, Land Between the Lakes.

It's a state park down 641.

He comes into town

when he wants to.

Well, he's just...

going through something,

I guess.

But I asked him about you

and he just said that

you went another way.

I wondered

why he's been staying.

I guess he was hoping

that you'd show up, right?

No, I don't know about that.

I don't know if he'd actually

even want to see me,

to be honest.

I know he was trying

to get back to you, though.

He said that?

God, he's an asshole.

Why is he even like this,

you know?

I tell him no one

even remembers

all that stuff

with the cops anymore.

It was three stupid days

and they let him go.

This is about your dad?

He didn't tell you?

Our dad's a drunk.

So drunk that he'd piss

on the wall kinda guy.

He got in Lee's face

a couple of times

and Lee would, you know,

try to calm him down,

and the day he left,

he wound up hitting Lee.

And when I tried to

break 'em up, he hit me, too.

Lee just lost it,

and he told me

to call the cops.

And when our dad ripped

the phone out of the wall,

Lee got him in a headlock.

He told me to run into town.

And when I got back

with the cops,

Lee was pretty beat up

and Dad's car was gone.

And Lee told 'em

that he took off,

but there was blood on Lee,

so they had to put him

in a holding cell

so they could test it.

And for a minute there,

everyone was like,

"Lee killed him,

Lee killed him."

But it was all Lee's blood.

It was all bullshit,

and they had to let him go.

And that was four years ago,

and he's been out of town

for three and a half of 'em.

It's not fair.

Lee!

Your tent.

We should really use it.

Just get lost.

Where do you want to go?

I don't know. Anywhere.

West. Let's go west.

It's your rod bearings then.

Seriously? Shit!

That means a new engine.

I'd rather just sell it

for parts.

Tell you what,

you make me a good offer,

I'll sell it to you right now.

You don't

want to sell it out here.

- Why?

- Look around, man.

How you gonna get home?

I don't know.

You do go someplace else.

Watching me read?

Yeah.

Well, you should know

after this, I'm out of books.

I'll have to go

to a bookstore.

May have to stop

on the way back, in Omaha.

By the way,

those guys were saying

we should have two days

of water with us

in case the engine gives out.

In case we have

to wait on a ride.

We should get some new wheels

as soon as we can.

I wish we could save it.

I'd rather have a van, anyway.

I learned how to drive

in that truck.

You learned how to kiss

in that truck.

I knew how to kiss before you,

Mr. Kentucky.

Ah.

I sang to my girl

in that truck.

Kayla told me about...

what happened with your dad.

Kayla doesn't know

what happened.

He sounds like

he was a fucking asshole.

I don't wanna...

I don't want to talk

about my dad.

I don't sweat this stuff out

like you do.

You know,

Kayla said that he...

that he hit you both

the day that he left.

That's true.

Told her to get the cops.

She did.

And then he left.

I don't know, I don't

really believe that. I mean,

there must've been

a lot of blood on you

for the cops to bring you in.

If you wanna know, Maren,

he came for me, okay?

He tried to rip me open

with his teeth.

That's the first time

I ever smelled it on someone.

What happened after that?

Lee,

you can tell me.

He, uh...

He passed out.

I got him in a... I put him

in a fucking...

headlock, and bashed

an ashtray over his head.

Dragged his fucking body

to his car.

Put him in the car,

and I drove to this barn

about a mile outside town

that I knew was abandoned.

How long was he in the barn?

Uh, three days.

I think, yeah.

Three days.

I duct-taped the shit

out of him too.

Everywhere

except his nostrils,

so he could breathe.

And when

I finally came back...

It's the sound he was making,

it's the noise

and the breathing.

He knew what was gonna happen.

What did you do?

I ate him right the fuck up.

And it felt fucking great.

I felt high as a motherfucker.

Probably would have

killed myself

if it weren't for Kayla.

I feel like I should have,

you know.

No. No, stop.

I would have done

the same thing.

I would have done

the same thing.

-Do you mean it?

-I would have done it in my way

but I would have done it.

You protected the people

that you love.

You don't think

I'm a bad person?

All I think is that

I love you.

Where do we go next?

Anywhere.

Let's drive back.

Until the truck

gives out somewhere.

And then just stay.

We can get a place, jobs.

You know, like people do.

You wanna be people?

Let's be people.

Yeah.

Let's be them for a while.

Yeah,

we're in Ann Arbor now.

Ann Arbor.

Maren got a job

at the university,

at the bookstore,

so, we're right near campus.

What'd you say?

Yeah, maybe if

we're here long enough.

Hey, Kayla says hi.

-Hi.

-Maren says hi.

-She wants to come up.

-Yeah.

Lee, I brought your...

I'm gonna take my hand away,

and you're not gonna scream.

Because Sully's a friend

and we don't scream

at friends.

Where's your...

Where's your cutie-pie?

I saw him.

I saw him walk out of here

half an hour ago.

I don't know.

What's all this for, Sully?

Ever...

Ever since I drove away

from you,

up there in Minnesota,

nothing's felt right.

What does that mean?

It means...

It mean... It...

It means unfinished business.

Sully, me and Lee...

we are together now.

That's not the business

I'm talkin' about.

I don't mind.

I don't... I don't mind

if you don't like Sully.

What I mind is how much

you know about him

in that little head of yours.

You don't think

I'd tell anyone, right?

I mean, who would believe me?

And you're the one who told me

you don't kill any...

You don't kill, right?

You told me that, Sully.

You know, I told...

I used to try and tell people

the truth, you know.

They never took me serious.

I just wanted to be...

I just wanted to be with

someone who understood.

Do you know what I mean?

Do you?

Mm.

Hmm.

Hey.

You never get sick

of yourself?

Sully just wants

to sleep at night.

That's all.

Sully just wants to sleep.

Sleep it off.

I said,

stop calling yourself Sully.

Shh!

Get off, Maren. Get off.

Careful.

Come on.

Up.

That's the man you met,

the one who followed you?

I smelled him two blocks

from here.

How the fuck did he find you?

Oh, no.

Hang on.

Look.

Fuck, he hit your lung.

We gotta go to the ER.

Air is coming out of this.

I can see it.

He got Kayla.

Don't think about that

right now.

Fuck.

Lee, we can't handle

this by ourselves, and...

-Am I bad?

-No.

No, no, Lee.

You're good, all right?

You're in shock.

-Am I bad?

-No.

No.

We can't call

an ambulance, Lee.

We can't let anybody in here.

We're just gonna go.

Come on.

-I want you to eat first.

-Come on, Lee.

Come on.

-I want you to eat me.

-No.

-I want you to eat...

-I'm not gonna eat him.

-No. I want you to eat...

-I don't wanna.

I want you to eat me.

I want you to eat.

-I want you to feed.

-No.

-I want you to eat.

-No.

-I don't wanna. I can't. Stop.

-I want you to do it, Maren.

- I'm done here.

- No. No. No.

-I want you to do it, Maren.

-Lee, stop.

-No. No, I can't.

-Bones and all.

I can't. Stop.

- It's beautiful.

- No. No. Stop.

Let me up. Let me up.

Let me up.

It's the easiest thing,

Maren, love.

No. No. No.

Just love me and eat.

Bones and All (2022) - full transcript